Ladder-bracing attachment



March 16 1926. 1,576,695

- F. R. WEBER LADDER BRACING ATTACHMENT Filed Feb. 12, 1925 Patented Mar. 16, 1926.

UNITED-STATES. PATENT OFFICE. i

' FRANK R. WEBER, or sTJrAUL, MINNESOTA.

3 LADDER-BRACINGATTACHMENT;

Application filed February 12, 1925. Serial No. 8,628.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK R. VENICE, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey andState of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ladder-Bracing Attachments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to at-tacln'nents for Fig. 2 is a vertical elevation of the upper portion of a ladder with my attachment holding the ladder adjacent a wall.

Fig.3 is a left hand side elevation of Fig.

'2 modified to show the brace-arms of the device in a lowered position and an eave added to the wall.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged partly sectional elevation of one of the brace arms of my device.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of the outer end of either arm of my device looking in the direction of arrow A in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged elevation of the chain hook and hanger of my device show ing as a matter of choice the top hook of the hanger directed oppositely from the chain hook 23 at the bottom end of it.

Referring to the drawing by reference numerals, 7 in Fig. 1 designates a house wall and 8 a window in the wall. In Figs. 2 and 3 the wall is designated 7* and is shown as the regular type of lapped board wall, the latter figure showing also the lower portion of an eave 9 extending from the wall.

10 and 10 designate respectively the right and left hand rails of a ladder having the usual rungs 11.

My device involves the use of two extensible, angularly arranged arms removably secured one to each rail of the ladder on a horizontal plane. The arms are counterparts and therefore a description of one will suflice for both.

Each arm comprises a U-shaped yoke 12 both arms of which have reglstermg keyhole slots 12 near the free ends for insertion of a key 13 after the yoke hasbeon placed horizontally to straddle a rail of the ladder thus. inelosing' the rail on all sides.

The

key is turned after being inserted so thatw its wing 13 holds the two arms in parallel relation. 14 is a thumb screw in one of the arms of the yoke, its inner end'engaging' the adjacent side of the rail (as in Fig. 4:). 15 is a preferably 45 degree L one end of which has a pivot pin 15 rotatably retained in the closed end'offthe'yoke 12 (Fig. t) and from the other end extends a fixed bar 16 which may be either a tube or a solid bar of suitable strength and having.

a series of diametral holes 16 17 is a tubular member slidable on the bar 16' and drilled diametrically near its inner end, as 17 in Fig. 4;, for a pin 18 to be insorted through any of the holes 16 of bar 16 according to the length of arm desired.

The outer end of tube 17 is provided with a fixed L 19, preferably a 45' degree L, in the outer end of which is screwed as at 20 a wall engaging member 20 preferably tapered to a toothed edge 20 the points of said teeth adapted to engage the surface of any wall (see Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5).

21 is a chain with one end secured as at 21 at or near the L19 ofeach arm, the other end being suitably secured as at 21 in a hook member 22 preferably made of flat bar stock and having a hook 22 adapted to engage a rung of the ladder for a purpose to be described. 23 is a two tined fork-like member secured as at 23 on hook member or hanger 22. In Fig. 2 the two chains are shown holding the arms, ofthe device in about a horizontal plane, each chain extending upwardly from 21 over the top rung of the ladderand thence down with the hook member 22 engaging the next lower rung. In Fig. 3 the arms are shown placed some distance from the top of the ladder, hook member 22 engaging the top rung and the chain extending directly from member 23 to the arm. In this application the whole length of chain is not always used but the exact length needed is from the hook 23 to point 21 The chain is merely engaged between the prongs of member 23 with one link crosswise within the fork member and the surplus links are allowed to hang idle, as to the right in Fig. 6.

18 in Fig. 1 indicates a light chain suitably secured on each tube 17 and also attached to pin 18. Thumb screws 14 may also be similarly attached to yoke 12 (not shown) so there will be no loose parts for the operator to drop accidentally while adjusting the ladder braces.

In the use of my device it will be readily understood that the right and left arms may be put on the ladder before or after it has been raised against a wall. It they are placed on after raising the ladder the arms will of course normally hang down and the operator adjusts them to desired lengths and raises them to contact with the wall, one at a time, and fixes the suspending chains 21 and hooks 22 as desired; It is I obvious that the upper end of a ladder may eave 9 are easily accessible.

hat I claim is: In a ladder bracing attachment a pair of diagonally disposed arms, means for detachably securing each arm to a rail of a ladder, said arms extending from the ladder to engage a Wall and means for lengthening said arms to spread the wall contacting parts and hold the ladder in spaced relation to a wall, and means holding said arms in a plane at substantially right angles to the plane of the ladder when in operative position, said detachable securing means comprising for each arm a U-shaped yoke adapted to straddle a rail of the ladder, means for connecting the spaced ends of said yoke and a screw in said yoke to engage the rail and hold the yoke at any desired position on the rail, said arms comprising each a bar pivotally secured in the closed end of the respective yoke, a tube slidable on said bar and detachably secured thereto in selective telescoped positions, and wall engaging means on the outer end of said tube.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

FRANK R. lVEBER. 

